Meanwhile, flights were cancelled at major airports, most notably Birmingham, which is closed as workers battled to clear its runway of ice.

There were road closures on sections of the M1, M40, A417 and A458 following multiple pile-ups. Trains were cancelled across the country because of points failures and bus routes cancelled completely in the worst affected areas.

Electricity supplier SSE says up to 24,000 homes in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire were left without power and across the South West of England and Wales about 2,900 customers have been affected by power cuts.

A P&O ferry, the Pride of Kent, ran aground in high winds at Calais, in northern France. There were no injuries and the ship was refloated within two hours.

An NHS trust in the West Midlands was forced to appeal for help online after the snow left hospitals with nurse shortages.

Heart of England trust, which represents hospitals in Birmingham and Solihull, asked on Twitter for people with 4x4s and to volunteer to help get nurses to hospitals.

Do you have a 4x4 and can volunteer to help our nurses get into our hospitals at good hope 424 7564 or heartlands 424 0483 pls give us a call. Thanks

Thanks for all the offers of help of 4x4 driver volunteers and nurses. We have had a great response and don't need any further support at the moment and will be in touch with those who have volunteered.